There are always things that I’ve thought would make it well here in the South. One of the big things for several years now on the west coast has been bubble tea. The pearls are made of tapioca starch and are usually given a large straw in which to suck up the pearls and the drink.
What’s interesting is that there are machines out there that make this stuff and personally I believe that if consumers start looking at a more healthier lifestyle, then these are no different than smoothies with the pearls in them. Either way, this is making its way into the South, which in my opinion is absolutely fantastic. If you’re around this area, you can find it at Phoenix Asian Cuisine, one of the finer fusion asian restaurants around locally.
All I have to say is, “Finally. Yum yum.”
Photo Credit: (roboppy)
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Rayanne Langdon wrote:
Hi Ben,
We have quite a few places that sell bubble tea in Toronto. I lived in Ottawa for a few years, also, and the drink was really popular there.
Good points about the health factor. I haven’t seen many places playing that up yet!
Posted on 10-Jun-08 at 7:37 am | Permalink
Jeff C. wrote:
Nice! I always enjoy a nice cup of boba tea from time-to-time
If bubbletea takes off, then expect other West Coast trends to follow… namely, frozen yogurt (go Pinkberry!), and currently, cupcakes!
Posted on 10-Jun-08 at 7:53 am | Permalink
Bo wrote:
I never thought of bubble tea as particularly healthy. With all that diary (I think most places actually non-dairy creamer) and sugar…i always considered it to be as nutritious as soda…just a lot, lot yummier.
And as a New Yorker…I need to point out that we started the cupcake trend. Magnolia Bakery (and Sex and the City)
Posted on 10-Jun-08 at 10:51 am | Permalink
M wrote:
“bubble tea”…ha, no one calls it bubble tea. It’s boba! Anyways, the boba itself isn’t the healthiest additive on the block…and the drinks don’t normally have “creamer”…..in fact, they’re normally some type of slushy made with some sugary syrup. You must be thinking of Milk Tea.
It’s hard to believe that boba is just now making its way to your area. Aren’t there a lot of Asian Americans in that area?
Posted on 11-Jun-08 at 1:28 am | Permalink
darkmoon wrote:
Actually, it is called “bubble tea”. Ernie to mention to me that west coasties tend to think of the “South” as LA area or what not… curious if that’s what people are misconstruing it as. Here in NC, it’s called bubble tea. If you sold it as boba, 1) it wouldn’t sell because no one would try it, and 2) no one would try it because it wouldn’t sell.
And where I am, is not consistent with places like Triangle area which is actually non-standard for the South. Places like the Triangle (Chapel Hill-Durham-Raleigh) area are only diverse due to the colleges there. Asian Americans in general in the South are a lot fewer although in the last five years or so, there have been a lot more immigrants coming this ways.
Posted on 11-Jun-08 at 6:34 am | Permalink